The word eclipse, has been translated from Greek as ‘cease to exist', fail to appear’, ‘I abandon, go missing, vanish’. No wonder the swallowing up of the Sun or Moon freaked people out.

Solar and lunar eclipses have always been given bad press - portents of negative world events, deaths and drama. Oftentimes, major shifts were as dramatic as the feared predictions, or at least ‘newsworthy’ - Moments of Note.

The residue remains, but these days we have more conscious awareness and the wisdom of hindsight, working in our favor. We may not always seem to have a choice around Eclipse time - when events can manifest for us, apparently forcing us to react or adjust. Yet even then, Choice still remains - our spiritual responsibility; an Ability to Respond. Choice is offered in the Light of awakened awareness - and this is what the Eclipse is really all about.

We get to see where we may have forgotten ourselves (Sun), or allowed ourselves to be eclipsed by something that is unconsciously holding us back (Moon).

In Aries, the urge to push ahead often bursts out in pockets of aggression, of physical fires or major announcements and ‘new releases’. Of people suddenly discovering themselves or a newfound vigor. It ushers in a fresh, pioneering spirit that seeks the New in all things or finds a New or previously Dormant fragment of Self, a new ‘personality-piece’.

Fresh avenues are always ready to be pioneered - but we may not be. Like anything worthwhile, it takes someone to blaze a trail, to carve a new path, and not everyone likes to hear the bulldozers outside.

We are now Ready, but we may not feel it, seemingly off-kilter, out of whack, feeling unbalanced or unstable.

This Eclipse throws us back on ourselves, so “self-care” is even more important at this time.

Consider these seven areas of Self-Care and see if there’s something you can actively do in one or more, to affect the change you need (and bookmark this page, so you can come back to it any time you feel stuck).

Mental Self-Care: creating a healthy mindset through mindfulness and curiosity. You can do this through journaling, meditation, intentional breaks from screen time (TV, internet, and phone usage). Choosing what to put before your eyes (and what not to). Conversation, talk-therapy or simply getting something off your chest.

Emotional Self-Care: creating healthy coping strategies for any life stressors. Honoring how you feel, without judging or pushing the feeling away. Learning to say No. Taking time for yourself when necessary. Comforting favorite movies or music, relaxation and time just allowing yourself to ‘be’. Positive affirmations, asking for help or seeking therapeutic support when needed. Creating Healthy boundaries with others. Being fully present in This Moment.

Physical Self-Care: taking care of the body with rest, nutrition, and movement. Examples include healthy meal options, drinking plenty of water each day, taking a multivitamin, getting a good night’s sleep, stretching the body or working out. Attending healthcare appointments and taking medication as prescribed.

Environmental Self-Care: Taking care of the places around you and the places you love - decluttering your environment, rearranging the workspace for peace and productivity, exploring new places, tidying/beautifying your living space, going for outdoor walks, picking up litter, satisfying our five physical senses, walks in Nature and Natural Settings and bringing the outside in with plants and flowers.

Spiritual Self-Care: Activities or a practice that give you a sense of meaning - yoga, hiking to a uplifting view, finding a community, volunteering, meditating or prayer, scripture reading, philosophy or metaphysical books, ‘paying it forward’s keeping a journal, tuning in to dream symbolism, adding small rituals to daily life.

Recreational Self-Care: making time for hobbies and activities of interest: going on adventures, watching funny videos, taking time to relax and do nothing without any judgment or guilt, playing games, self-expression through creativity: art, dance, learning an instrument, letting your inner child out, taking oneself or others on dates.

Social Self-Care: Building relationships and making connections with healthy boundaries. Examples: connecting with friends (face to face, where possible) & regular check-ins, calling relatives, talking to a support group, finding online or local groups who share your interest, acknowledging a stranger, random acts of kindness.

Our presence affects the whole.

So we owe it to both ourselves and the world we affect, to take the time we need to find our way back to a better relationship with ourselves, to full ‘em-body’ our life; to be okay taking up space and Being Here.

Aries is Ruled by Mars, who not only helps protect and defend us but gives us the courage to face down foes and pursue our pleasures and passions, our dreams and desires, Aries energy is the spark that gets us motivated and moving or we simply wouldn’t get out of bed.

We hear so much about online social media Influencers that at times, our individual personalities may feel small or overshadowed by larger or louder or more assertive, driven, pushy, or energetic types who thrust themselves into the spotlight.

The truth is YOU already ARE an influencer. You may not have a social platform (and if you do, please be sure to leave breadcrumbs in the comments below for the rest of us to find and follow you), but you unquestionably influence the world, by your very existence.

In this dimension, your presence is felt.

No matter how invisible or hidden you may think or feel you are.👊🏼

The Aries Solar Eclipse (April 19/20)